Fifteen small businesses will win 10 days worth of technical and marketing consultancy, training and web development services to develop their e-commerce or online presence from the Optimise Fund, a fund set up by the Irish Internet Domain Registry (IEDR) to help SMEs get the most out of their web presence.

Thirty small and medium firms have been shortlisted to go into the funding round, and the IEDR is opening voting to the public so they can join in selecting the final 15 winners.

Optimise works with two Irish companies who provide the fund’s goodies direct to the winners —  Matrix Internet, a full service digital agency which focuses on delivering top class user experience to increase conversions, and Software Design,  which provides a professional software development service.

One of the 30 companies hoping to make it through to the final 15 is WorldBOX.ie, led by founder Bernie Kinsella (pictured). “Winning this prize will transform how we do business online and has the potential to realise our ambition for the business, providing an even better customer experience while also unlocking new job and sales opportunities,” she said. “That’s why I’m hoping that the public will be kind enough to lend their support by voting for us.”

Ten of the 15 firms will be selected by public vote, the remaining five by the Optimise judging panel. Voting closes on Friday June 17 , and takes place on the IEDR’s own website.

In Association with

The 30 SMEs in the race for Optimise funding include house-movers Buska.ie, educational technology outfit EdTech.ie, beauty salon Glow.ie, online health store HealthyLiving.ie and DublinWineRooms.ie.

• Click here to vote for WorldBOX or one of the other contestants.